Clan Chat debates.. vote

[Deep_Pain]

Should debates on religion, politics and other such things be dissalowed in clanchat?

Over my past few visits in clan chat there have been some vociferous debates, covering religion, war, politics, abortion etc etc..

I myself love a good debate for several reasons, I feel it is one of the best ways possible to learn new ideas and views and I just have an opinion on absolultely everything.

But maybe clan chat isn't the place for this. People can only say one line at a time, clan chat is often busy now and it can be a difficult place to express yourself without coming across in a way you don't wish to.

There are also debates that may cause offence, and people may not wish to discuss them, that and most people just want to playy and have fun and chat, not try and solve world poverty.

We will be opening a debate forum here for debates. We may discuss other options on how to allow debates, a secondary clan chat maybe for example. We don't wish to be big brother, but clan chat should be a fun place for all.

[Hid]

I think the clan chat aint the right place for these kind of debates. I noticed the abortion debate this night in cc, and although I have an opinion on it, I don't feel like debating when I want to play Runescape. I think many members could see it that way. They just want to play instead of being forced to experience a debate about these kind of themes.

Debates can often be confused with argues, especially when it is a subject that is of emotional nature for people. This might give a bad impression of the clan to other members. And finally even Jagex might have a problem with it. I know that from times to times mods just enter channels to check on them. I experienced this myself in a previous clan leading into black marks for a clan member.

Best place for this is on the forums in my opinion.

[Lady in Ice]

I agree. Some of debates I experienced in chat led to an unpleasent situation when ppl felt personally attacked and even left the cc. Those kind of debates could destroy the positive mood in cc very quickly in my opinion

Btw- where can I find our rules ? :oops:

[Deep_Pain]

we dont really have many, but in the announcement section..

never mind scratch that, just looked there.. not there lol.

wth I re-wrote them a few weeks ago.. faq, history, rules on one big long mofo post.. now dissapeared. I'll see if i can find :-/ as I don't have hard copy.

[Lady in Ice]

yup, I didn´t find them either

[Deep_Pain]

that's just plain freaky weird.

I guess I'm, gonna have to re-do the lot.

as they're gone, definately posted because I edited a few times.

I'll see if i can find in logs, maybe i saved, but if i did god knows how u get those lol.

[damnimmart]

I abstain on this one.
I'm not a very agressive debater myself and you won't see me participate very active or for a long period. But when others feel the need to debate I won't stop them and it doesn't bother me that much.

I do think that people sometimes didn't knew when to stop. the debates I experienced tended to get out of hand after a while. in the heat of the debate it could get a bit offending for some people in clanchat.
every debate without debate leader tends to get out of hand. And we don't have a debate leader in clanchat. So the debaters should respect it when others in clanchat intervene when they are starting to feel uncomfortable.
So when debates are a bit more controlled and cut off before it gets out of hand I think they should be able to continue in the clanchat.

[kodirodio]

I too like a good argument/debate and really do enjoy hearing about how others view many topics. That said, cc is too open a forum for it. People who do not wish to participate are forced to at least view it instead of being able to make a choice. I love Hid's idea of these discussions being in the forums.

If I did offend anyone the other day, I would like to appalogize whole heartedly. I saw the discussion as a chance to get to know my clan members on a different level, and for them to get to know me on that same level. There was never any intention to change anyone's mind or to suggest that my ideas are the correct ones.

Kodi

[beefeater555]

I believe we should make a forum also.

In an "open" debate, the bystanders are forced to watch and can be hurt very easily. You never know what personal experiences they may have had in regards to the subject being debated. One simple remark could "cut them right to the bone" and you wouldn't even know you had done it.

At least with a forum they can chose to read or even get involved with the discussion.

Besides, if we were ever "monitored by Jagex" we would probably be in big trouble. Even though we are all adults there is only one set of rules for rs. I believe there would be no "debating" that with Jagex.

Better safe than sorry.

P.S. - I personally did enjoy the debates. I think everyone showed respect to each other's opinion. And when it go heated, it was ended quickly with no hard feeling. I enjoy seeing how other people view the world. It is very easy to get caught up in our own "preconceived notions". A little fresh air does everyone good, now and then. Okay, I get off my soapbox now, sorry for the long post. :oops:

[Lawidget]

I like the idea of a forum here on the site...

I agree that one line at a time is not enough to really discuss something and it could be offensive...not meaning to be...

[Ewsentinel]

I abstained because while I don't want to tell someone if they can talk about something or not, if I don't want to hear something, I'll either stop reading chat posts or just leave cc. Either way, I'm alright.

[RedFalling]

I like a good debate and while I believe everyone has the right to speak their mind, I don;t think clan chat is the place to do it. What if you were having a debate on which religion was the correct one to go to heaven (example only here), and the new clan member who just joined to days ago hops in the CC. Oh, did i forget to mention shes a nun?? The point is, most of us are smart enough to know that it is just a debate of thought and nothing more, but there is a large group of people that will take anything to offense and then you have bannings, lawsuits, and the FCC.

[QueenMaedh]

I think the forum is a better place for debates as if we debate in clan chat any member who either might find it offensive or simply not wish to participate is left out in the cold. If we debated in a forum instead then members who wished to debate could post their and members who didnt could simply ignore the thread altogether.

If the mods are going to set rules for debating then I think it is simple enough to reiterate a rule about not personally insulting others.
I would also like to add that if one of our moderaters would like to take part in a debate which I would be delighted to see, I quite strongly feel that they need to hold back from policing the opposing debater should their opinions differ.

[Deep_Pain]

I'm looking forward to the debate forum

off topic:
i love the new avvy queen.

ok yes this was just a post to say I liked queens new avvy, but thought i better try and think of something on topic to say.

[Zia]

I totally concur with no debating in clan chat, it is way too easy to hurt someone's feelings. Don't get me started on CC etiquette, I think I could write a small novel on the subject. (ask Prayerbeast )

Susan aka Zia